At WWDC 2022, Apple announced a series of new features for iMessage in iOS 16, including the option to edit and 'unsend' sent messages. But the presence of this feature is feared that it will endanger victims of harassment and violence.
In an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, attorney Michelle Simpson Tuegell asked Apple to reconsider the edit and unsend feature.
Both of these features are already available on other messaging platforms, but because iMessage is the default messaging application on the iPhone, Simpson Tuegel said it is an important application in user communication.
With this new feature, iPhone users have 15 minutes to edit or delete sent messages. Simpson Tuegel exemplifies how a violent offender can send a threatening message to a victim, but then edit the message before the time limit runs out to cover his tracks.
Moreover, within 15 minutes the sender is free to edit the message many times. Although the original message can be screenshot by the victim, Simpson Tuegel said it is unfair for the victim to always be on alert and keep all screenshots of messages received.
"It's not uncommon for perpetrators in these situations to deny that they sent abusive messages, using the trauma of the victim to 'gaslight' them to no longer believe they were the victim," said Simpson Tuegel in the letter, as quoted by 9to5Mac. , Monday (20/6/2022).
Actually, through this update, iPhone users can see if the messages they receive have been edited or deleted. But they can't see the content of the original message before it's edited or deleted.
Since the new iOS 16 will be rolling out to all users this fall, Apple can still bring changes. Simpson Tuegel also suggested several solutions that Apple could implement to make this edit and unsend feature less harmful to victims of violence.
First, Apple could reduce the time limit for editing and deleting messages from 15 minutes to two minutes. With a shorter time limit, perpetrators may think twice about sending threatening messages because they don't have enough time to erase their tracks.
Because iPhone users can turn off the read receipts feature, Simpson Tuegel suggests Apple should make it easier for users to turn off the edit and unsend features. So the messages received by the user also cannot be edited or deleted.